Paris, October 2025— As the city’s storied avenues thrummed with anticipation, Andreas Kronthaler unveiled his Spring/Summer 2026 collection for Vivienne Westwood, transforming Paris Fashion Week into a tableau of Mediterranean artistry and sartorial ingenuity. Billed as a “Mediterranean Renaissance,” this show was more than a seasonal offering—it was a statement of legacy, a celebration of sunlit intimacy, and a meditation on the interplay of past, present, and future in fashion’s ever-shifting narrative.
A Mediterranean Renaissance: The Heartbeat of a New Westwood Era
Kronthaler’s vision for Vivienne Westwood has never shied from audacity, but Spring/Summer 2026 marks a particularly evocative chapter. The notion of a “Mediterranean Renaissance” is not merely thematic window dressing; it is the collection’s core philosophy, woven seamlessly into every silhouette, fabric choice, and flourish. This season, Kronthaler channels the charisma of Southern Europe—where sun-drenched coastlines, languid afternoons, and ancient artistry converge. The runway, set against Paris’s cosmopolitan backdrop, radiated with intimate warmth and poetic nostalgia.
The collection’s aesthetic—described as “intimate and sunny”—invites viewers into a world where romance and rebellion coalesce. It is a celebration of Mediterranean grace, imbued with the spirit of renewal and the slow burn of tradition. The marriage of Westwood’s punk-rooted heritage with Kronthaler’s Mediterranean inspiration results in a collection that feels both familiar and thrillingly new.
Pushing Boundaries: The Intertwining of Past, Present, and Future
What sets this collection apart is Kronthaler’s masterful intertwining of temporal elements. Each look operates as a dialogue between eras—ancient motifs are reimagined through contemporary tailoring, while futuristic flourishes punctuate the narrative. The designer’s guiding principle is clear: Fashion must be a living archive, not a museum piece.
Through his deft hand, the collection explores:
- Historic references: Garments echo the draped forms of Renaissance portraiture, with fluid lines and strategic layering that evoke both classical statues and modern streetwear.
- Modern techniques: Sharp tailoring, innovative cuts, and unexpected fabric pairings ground the collection firmly in the now.
- Futuristic touches: Metallic accents and architectural silhouettes hint at the world to come, ensuring the collection’s relevance beyond the current season.
Kronthaler’s evolution of the Westwood legacy is not about preservation—it is about transformation. By inviting Mediterranean influences into the house’s iconoclastic DNA, he ensures Vivienne Westwood’s relevance for a new generation while honoring its storied past.
The Intimacy of Design: Sunlit Aesthetics and Artistic Flourish
Describing the collection as “intimate and sunny” is no mere affectation. The show’s palette glowed with ochres, terracottas, and deep blues—shades evocative of Mediterranean coastlines and ancient frescoes. Fabrics ranged from airy linens and crisp cottons to more sumptuous silks, each chosen for their tactile resonance and visual impact.
Silhouettes embraced the body with a languid ease, eschewing rigid formality in favor of organic draping and movement. Dresses fluttered with lightness, masculine tailoring was softened by unstructured shoulders, and accessories nodded to both classical and bohemian traditions. The overall effect was a celebration of personal expression, inviting wearers to inhabit each garment with individuality and confidence.
Yet, beneath the sunny exterior, Kronthaler’s design philosophy revealed a deeper intimacy. The collection’s construction, with its subtle layering and unexpected juxtapositions, suggested a certain vulnerability—a willingness to reveal, to reinterpret, to risk. In a season defined by spectacle and excess, Kronthaler’s restraint felt radical.
Legacy and Evolution: Kronthaler’s Distinctive Voice
Since assuming creative stewardship, Andreas Kronthaler has navigated the tension between tradition and innovation with remarkable finesse. His approach to Vivienne Westwood is not simply additive; it is transformative. This season, his Mediterranean inspiration acts as both muse and catalyst, prompting a reevaluation of what the house stands for in 2026.
Kronthaler’s respect for Westwood’s rebellious roots remains central, but he refuses to be tethered by nostalgia. The Spring/Summer 2026 collection is proof of his ability to distill the essence of the brand while infusing it with his personal vision. The result is a collection that honors the past, engages the present, and gestures boldly toward the future—a balancing act few designers achieve with such clarity.
The Show’s Cultural Resonance: Fashion as Living History
In Paris, where fashion history is written and rewritten each season, Kronthaler’s “Mediterranean Renaissance” resonated on multiple levels. It is a timely meditation on cultural fusion and creative renewal. By drawing on the Mediterranean’s rich tapestry of art, history, and mythology, the collection becomes a vessel for storytelling—one that bridges geographic and temporal divides.
This approach feels especially poignant in 2026, as the industry grapples with questions of sustainability, identity, and purpose. Kronthaler’s work suggests that fashion’s future lies not in endless novelty but in the thoughtful reimagining of tradition. The collection’s intimate, sunlit aesthetic is a call to slow down, to savor, and to reconnect with the deeper currents of artistry.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Vivienne Westwood
Andreas Kronthaler’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection for Vivienne Westwood is more than a seasonal triumph—it is a manifesto for fashion’s enduring power to evolve, to surprise, and to inspire. By weaving together the threads of past, present, and future with Mediterranean grace, Kronthaler reaffirms the house’s position at the intersection of art and rebellion.
For those craving a vision of fashion that is both intimate and expansive, daring yet grounded, Kronthaler’s “Mediterranean Renaissance” offers a compelling answer. As Paris Fashion Week draws to a close, one thing is clear: the legacy of Vivienne Westwood is not static but alive, ready to be reimagined with every rising sun.
